Chile-Lime Grilled Watermelon Recipe

Chile-Lime Grilled Watermelon will be the hit of your summer BBQ! Sweet, subtly spicy and super refreshing, it’s the perfect side dish to all sorts of grilled foods.This post contains Amazon affiliate links for your convenience at no additional cost to you.

Add the tangy flavor of a lime, and the spicy flavor of a hot chile, to sweet, juicy watermelon and see what happens.

Grilling summer fruits is brilliant, if you ask me. Why not? It’s so delicious served with grilled meats — the contrast of flavors is incredible.

How to Grill Watermelon

• Preheat the grill and drizzle thick slices of watermelon with a neutral oil. (Grapeseed oil is perfect.)
• Once the grill is very hot, add the watermelon slices with a couple of inches between them. If you don’t hear a sizzling sound when the fruit hits the grill, it’s not hot enough. Wait for the sizzle or you won’t get the nice grill marks that we’re after.
• Grill just long enough to mark the watermelon, then flip the slices and grill for about 30 seconds.
• The goal is to mark the watermelon, adding the smoky flavor of the grill with a bit of crispness that comes along with it. We’re not cooking the melon.

I think this Chile-Lime Grilled Watermelon is an explosion of refreshing deliciousness! 

And don’t you think it’s beautiful, too? Just imagine a full platter on the center of the barbecue buffet.

Cooking watermelon on the grill, and adding the char flavor makes this already cooling snack, all the more perfect for a hot summer day.

What goes with Chile-Lime Grilled Watermelon?

So many things! Burgers, grilled chicken, salads, cocktails, and more!

I love serving it at casual barbecues, alongside my Coffee-Balsamic Grilled Flank Steak and Fried Meyer Lemon Caesar Salad.  Everyone loves this combination of dishes.

What does Chile-Lime Grilled Watermelon taste like?

Grilled watermelon tastes super sweet, super juicy, with a lovely subtle smoky, charred flavor from the grill.

And in the case of this recipe it’s also a bit tangy and spicy.

It’s delicious, of course! Enjoy!

5 from 1 vote

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Chile-Lime Grilled Watermelon Recipe

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

5 mins

Total Time

15 mins

 

Chile-Lime Grilled Watermelon will be the hit of you summer BBQ! Sweet, subtly spicy and super refreshing, it's the perfect side dish to all sorts of grilled foods.

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fruits to grill, good for summer bbq

Servings: 4

Calories: 105 kcal

Author: Valentina K. Wein

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
• 1 teaspoon chile paste (I like Sambal Oelek)
• zest of 1/2 of a lime
• juice of 1/2 of a lime
• pinch of salt
• 8 small triangular wedges of seedless watermelon, about 1/2-inch thick

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, combine the oil, chile paste, lime zest and juice, and a pinch of salt.
2. Place the watermelon slices in one layer on a baking sheet.
3. Preheat a stove-top or outdoor grill.
4. Use a whisk to make sure the chile-lime mixture is well blended, and then drizzle about half of it over the watermelon. Flip the slices over, and drizzle the rest on the other side.
5. Once the grill is very hot, add the watermelon slices, being sure there is at least an inch or so between them. (If you don't hear a sizzling sound when the fruit hits the grill, it's not hot enough. Wait for the sizzle!)
6. Grill just long enough to mark the watermelon, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip them over, and only grill the other side for about 30 seconds. (We want the watermelon to keep it's crunch.)
7. Serve!

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